Happy to help with some advice and if you do a search, you'll find some solid posts I made on the space. 

Quote from @Chris Gibbins: Hi Everyone - I searched the forums but could not find any related posts.

CoC is an, all things being equal, comparison tool between properties.

He studies markets and publishes regular updates on which markets are the best for your goals.Use the search bar.

I am search for an eviction lawyer but base on the court date and I am having a hard time finding an lawyer. 

You can usually find some events by doing a simple google search.

The find a lender tool is a great tool to find hard money and DSCR lenders!

Should I be prioritizing finding a local expert, or are there tools and strategies I can use to handle this process myself?

It has been discussed on this forum multiple times, you can search the forum for earlier threads.The reason CPAs disagree is because it's somewhat controversial, especially between accountants who do NOT specialize in real estate.

I have been on the search for a small multi family (duplex, tri, or quadplex) in the South DFW (Burleson/Joshua to Mansfield area) This will be my FIRST home purchase to begin house hacking and building my portfolio.